The Art of Japanese Tea Ceremony

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 May 2011 05:20

By Sheela Kingsbury

Tea is nought but this:
First you heat the water,
Then you make the tea.
Then you drink it properly.
That is all you need to know.

— Sen Rikyu, 16th century Tea Master

These simple instructions invite us to step into a profound and nuanced experience of the present moment known as Chanoyu — the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. Chanoyu literally means "hot water for tea." Its ultimate aim is the attainment of deep spiritual satisfaction through the drinking of tea and quiet contemplation, similar to the practice of Zen meditation.

The Chanoyu tradition is centuries old, yet it is as relevant for us today with our busy lives as it was hundreds of years ago for samurai warriors struggling to find inner peace in a war-torn land.

So then, what is Japanese Tea Ceremony, and how does practicing it enhance our lives?

Very simply, Tea Ceremony is a communion between host and guests, in an environment designed to still the mind. The tea is served ritually, and the participants appreciate the aesthetics of the setting and the unique utensils.

Woven throughout all of Tea Ceremony are four guiding inspirations: wa, kei, sei, jaku — Harmony, Respect, Purity and Tranquility. Hidden within the relative simplicity of these words is a subtle and profound philosophy that can facilitate great transformation in our lives.

The question is: how many of us actually practice these traits, in the sense of extending these qualities to ourselves and those around us, purely and unconditionally?

In Tea Ceremony, we step out of our ordinary lives for a moment and enter the extraordinary, where our sole intention is to focus on just what is before us. In this simple moment where nothing else needs to be accomplished, we have the freedom to practice the traits of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility, and to make a paradigm shift into a new way of being. Like meditation, art, music, or any activity that naturally draws our focus into the present moment, Tea Ceremony has the power to stop the chattering of the mind and inspire us to contentment.

As with any great philosophical system, Chanoyu is beneficial for all aspects of our being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The numerous health benefits of green tea are now widely recognized. It may, among other things, enhance the immune system, guard against certain cancers, protect heart functions, and assist in weight loss, and it contains powerful antioxidants that potentially slow the aging process. Tea promotes mental clarity and alertness, and the ceremony itself benefits our memory and our ability to focus. Participants are drawn into a shared feeling of joy and vitality.

Perhaps most importantly, Chanoyu heightens our awareness of the sacredness of our daily activities. It helps us to focus on the details of our life with wonder and freshness.

Chanoyu has endured because it has something to offer, and whether we participate as a one-time event or a lifetime of study, we can experience the beauty of the present moment in this elegant tradition. As the fifteenth Urasenke Grand Tea Master, Soshitsu Sen, said:

"In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea; I see all of nature represented in its green color. Closing my eyes, I find green mountains and pure water within my own heart. Silently sitting alone and drinking tea, I feel these become part of me. What is the most wonderful thing for people like myself who follow the Way of Tea? My answer: the oneness of host and guest created through 'meeting heart to heart' and sharing a bowl of tea."

Sheela Kingsbury is a certified Urasenke Tea Instructor and has studied Tea for over 24 years. Join her for a class at GreenStar on Wednesday, May 11. Sheela invites you to visit Tea Garden Ithaca to experience and explore Japanese Tea Ceremony in a traditional garden setting. For appointments, class schedules, or additional information, call 607.272.1080 or visit the website at TeaGardenIthaca.com.